With Tom Coughlin resigned as the Giants’ head coach, it created some uncertainty about Steve Spagnuolo‘s future with the team. The incumbent defensive coordinator interviewed for New York’s head coaching job, but it was Ben McAdoo, the former offensive coordinator, who ended up landing the job instead.
[RELATED: Eagles hire Doug Pederson as head coach]
Despite not receiving a promotion like McAdoo, it doesn’t appear that Spagnuolo is going anywhere. Several Giants beat reporters, including Paul Schwartz of the New York Post and Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Twitter links) that Spagnuolo is expected to remain the team’s defensive coordinator.
Still, it’s not as if Spagnuolo is staying put due to a lack of opportunities elsewhere. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the Eagles explored the idea of bringing the Giants’ defensive coordinator to Philadelphia as Doug Pederson‘s defensive coordinator. Anthony Gargano of 97.5 The Fantatic (Twitter link) said this morning that the Eagles actually requested permission to talk to Spagnuolo, but were denied by New York.
Assuming Gargano’s report is accurate, it doesn’t come as a real surprise. Coughlin interviewed with the Eagles for their head coaching job, but withdrew from that process at least in part because he was unlikely to have the freedom to bring his old Giants assistants with him. If the Giants wouldn’t let Spagnuolo join Coughlin in Philadelphia, they weren’t likely to let him join Pederson there. Of course, it’s not clear if Spagnuolo even reciprocated the Eagles’ interest.
As our coordinator tracker shows, Jim Schwartz and Mike Pettine have been mentioned as potential defensive coordinator candidates in Philadelphia. On the other side of the ball, the Eagles appear to be closing in on a deal to make Frank Reich their offensive coordinator, while the Giants are expected to promote Mike Sullivan to their OC role.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.